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Bullpen, Scott help Orioles top Red Sox

May 14, 2008 - 4:37 AM By Sean Burns PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - George Sherrill got the save, but the work of reliever Jim Johnson in the seventh inning is what many of the 38,768 fans will remember about the Baltimore Orioles' 5-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night at Camden Yards.

With no outs and the bases loaded in the top of the inning, Johnson entered from the bullpen with the job of facing Manny Ramirez while trying to maintain a two-run lead.

The pair battled to a stalemate for nine pitches but, on the 10th, it was Johnson who emerged victorious, getting the slugger to tap into a 1-2-3 double-play before ending the inning by inducing Mike Lowell into a flyout to left.

"In that scenario, you're just looking for a double play," Johnson said. "Having (Ramirez) at the plate changes things, but you just have to go out there with blinders on and make good pitches."

Johnson wasn't as sharp in the eighth, issuing a pair of walks and Alex Cora's RBI single, but Sherrill came in to earn his 14th save of the season - his first five-out performance of the season.

The work of Johnson and Sherrill made a winner out of Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-3), who pitched into the seventh and held the AL East leaders off of the scoreboard in all but the first inning.

"Jeremy had a (heck) of a start and he kept us in it, Johnson came out and threw well, picked us up in a tight spot, and I was able to finish it off," Sherrill said. "It was just a (heck) of a job by everyone tonight."

Luke Scott had the big day at the plate for the Orioles, finishing 3-for-4 and putting the Orioles on top for good with a three-run homer in the third inning off Josh Beckett. Scott entered Tuesday's game in a 7-for-53 slump over the last 18 contests.

Scott's work helped Baltimore rally out of an early hole, as Guthrie allowed three hits to the first four batters he faced, including an RBI single to Ramirez. Lowell had an RBI on an error by Aubrey Huff at third, then Kevin Millar allowed another run to score when he let J.D. Drew's grounder go between his legs to make it 3-0.

Guthrie settled down after the first, allowing just three baserunners until he was lifted after back-to-back singles by Sean Casey and Dustin Pedroia in the seventh. He finished the day having allowed eight hits and three runs - two earned - and striking out seven.

"We're scuffling a bit, but we're still having quality at bats," said Boston bench coach Brad Mills, filling in for manager Terry Francona, who was absent due to the death of his mother-in-law.

"Any time you have situations where you have the bases loaded and you don't score, it's frustrating, but we're doing some good things out there."

Beckett (4-3) lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and all five runs while striking out five.

"We were hoping that (Beckett) wasn't going to be on his 'A' game tonight," Baltimore manager David Trembley said. "Our plan was to make him throw as many pitches as we could and let's see if we can get him. The guy's were ready for the challenge. That's why we are here."